All,
Just want to share what my experience is. Having walked distances over 50 miles on sneakers, more sturdy leather walking boots and class C gore-tex boots over the past 20 years. Not saying you then know what to do (some people never learn things) but that is my reference.
- for my on the road long distance. I have no discpline in hardening the soles of my foot and bridge the gap of office feet to hiker feet. I have me feet tapes with the small, about 1cm Leukeplast tape, like schingles, nice and neat. Whole foot, including the heel and up. I have it done on the first aid place, takes them about 25 minutes for both feet.
- AFter that I powder the whole thing with feet powder (either you enjoy the smell of menthol or you just use the plain powder. It keeps them dry and ensures it does not stick to the socks.
- smaller distance I tape the front of my foot to half way and powder.
- ensure tape does not curl, so schingle it right, curles give blisters at some point, specially with thinner socks.
- Socks, quality socks like bridgedale hiker, smartwool (think it is merino wool or a modern mix solution). They are worth there money.
- I change socks every 20km, or less, certainly if I am going far (or very hot, or path is very uneven which gives additional friction, having more dry feet enables you to take a bit more friction without getting blisters), I also re-powder them. If the weather is good I hang the old socks on the outside, dry them and re-use them. When hiking I wash them and dry them, either in my sleeping bag or via fire solution.
- This taping can take quite some blisters without really having a problem with it.
- If I have a blister under the tape and it got the chance to fill up too much I use a blood lancet to go right through the tape and blister or, I just brake it by walking on it (which sucks of course)
- For bigger blisters I would have to remove the tape, or part of it. It needs TLCT (tender, love, care and time).
- I tend to use thicker socks because it just gives more comfort.
- I experimented with two socks (very very thin liner and a medium thick sock). This has to advantages in theory. One..the liner is meant to re-route moist away from the other sock and second your friction is between the two socks and not directly wth the food bed. With both solution I managed to walk 50 miles with not any significant size blister.
- nails ...short
- if your toes are not straight and rub against eachother, there is special lube to help.
- make sure the hard skin is not removed but smoothened with a file.
- if tape does not stick, use some white spirit to activate the glue.
- I do tie my lashes after half an hour walk, ANYTHINK bothering me, the slightest thin..needs to be resoved, any annoyning feeling needs to be removed...it will ALWAYS come back and greet you later.
- I used to use sporttape (the stuff you use to prevent injuries, or if you have one, for additional support. This is okay but taking it off with a blister will possible damage the whole thing majorly. I have not used that im many years.
- Take care of any small blister as if was your new born, ensuring you do not get big ones.
last time I had blisters in other areas. feet never a problem.
BTW, all of this is useless once you buy yourself shoes which are to small, or too big, in length and width. Buy them with the sock solution you want to use, stick to what works, every time.